Barrel seal



L. E. ANDERSON 2,027,

BARREL SEAL Filed June 17, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR I .ZaasAsZf Mew-0n B ai.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 7, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,027,143 BARREL SEAL Lossie E. Anderson, Chicago, 111., assignor to Standard Oil Compa y; Chicago, 111., a corpo- V ration of Indiana Application June 17, 1932, serial No. 611,173 4 Claims. (01. 220-39) This invention relates to a cover for protecting bungs and it pertains more particularly to a destructible cap for surrounding the bung of a container, such as barrels or casks, whereby it will be necessary to crush or mutilate the cap before the bung can be removed from the container.

My device is particularly adapted for use on barrels such as those used for shipping petroleum products, and it is effectivelyused to deter the acts of unscrupulous oil dealers who purchase their petroleum products in barrels from reputable refiners and then adulterate the contents thereof and sell it to the public in the containers of the reputable refiner, thereby perpetrating a fraud upon the public who buys the oil as a result of the trade-mark and reputation of the reputable refiner.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in Figure 1, which represents a plan view of the bung and cap. Figure 2 represents avertical section view along the line lI-II of Figure 1, showing a sealed strap for securing the destructible cap around the bung. Figure 3 represents a plan view of the sealing device for the destructible cap.

A second embodiment of my invention is represented in Figure 4 which shows a plan view of the bung and cap; Figure 5 shows a-vertical section of Figure 4 taken along the line VV, showing a flared flange to secure the destructible cap to the bung.

A third embodiment of my invention isillustrated in Figure 6 which shows a plan view of the destructible cap and bung. Figure 7 represents a vertical section of Figure 6, taken along the line VII-VII, showing at soft metal brad for securing the destructible cap to thebung. Figure 8 shows the soft metalbrad in position before it seals the destructible cap to the bung.

Three other modifications of my invention are shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11 respectively, each of which is represented by a vertical sectional view. Also a modification of .the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is shown in Fig.12.

In Figure 2, the barrel surface ll,.which is usually the end, is provided with a threaded opening or bung hole l2, The bung body {3, which is generally provided with apolygonal flanged head It and a polygonal socket l5, threadedly engages the bung hole l2.- By the aid of the polygonal head M or the polygonal socket IS, the bung can be clamped with a wrench or some suitable means and screwed into the bung hole. A washer l6 is disposed between the circumference of the bung hole and the head ofthe bung, thereby efiecting a tight seal when the bung is screwed into the bung hole. A strap I], provided with a circular portion l8 about the size of the bung hole, is disposed under the bung head 14. The circular portion of the strap is placed in position before the bung is placed into the bung hole. A circular destructible metallic cap I9 is placed over the bung head l4, thereby completely covering the top and sides of saidm bung head. The strap I1 'is made of light flexible metal, such as tin, and can be doubled back over the cap l9 and sealed by inserting some suitable locking means in the holes 20, and 20, as shown at 2l. of glass] or stifi paper.

' To apply the bung and cap the washer I6 is placed over the bung hole, then the circular member l8 of the strap is placed on the washer. If desired, the washer may be placed on the circular portion 3. The bung I3 is now tightly screwed into the bung hole. The destructible cap I9 is then. placed over the bung, and the strap [1 is doubledback over the top of the cap and sealed as shown at 2 I. ,After the bung has been sealed, it is impossible to remove the bung without breaking seal 2| or crushing the cap l9. By means of this fragile metallic cap it is very easy to ascertain if the bung has been removed or tampered with after the container has been filled. To remove the bung, the seal 2| may be broken and the cap L9 removed, or the cap may be crushed by a wrench when applied to the bung.

The second embodiment of my invention is shown inFigures 4 and 5. The bung body 22 is suitably. threaded to engage the bung hole of the barrel, and the head of the bung is polygonal in shape and projects beyond the body of the bung, thereby'form'ing the flanged member 23.

The cap l9 may also be made 15' The center part of the bung contains a non-circular socket 24, the lower part of which tapers outwardly to'form an annular groove 25. A destructible cap 26-is placed over the polygonal bung head 23, and the 'center part of said cup contains a non-conformably depressed portion that projects into the socket 24 and groove 25. If desired a tearing strap 21, which terminatesin the tongue 28, may be provided on the cap in order to facilitate-the removal of said cap.

To use the second modification, the bung is tightly screwed, into the bung hole, the circular cap 26 is placed over the head of the bung, and then the center portionof the cap is hitwlth a tool which forms a circular depression that fits into the socket 2d and groove 25. Before the bung can be removed, it is necessary to remove the cap by pulling the tongue 28 of the tearing strap 21 or crush the fragile cup 26 and turn the bung with a wrench that fits the polygonal head of the polygonal socket of the bung.

A third modification of my invention is shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8. As shown in Figure 7 the body of the bung 29 is threaded and adapted to engage the bung hole on the surface of the container 30. The head of the bung is polygonal in shape and projects beyond the body of the bung, thereby forming the flanged portion 3|. The top surface of the bung contains an outwardly tapered hole as shown at 32 of Figure 8. A fragile cup 33 is placed over the polygonal bung head, thereby covering thesides and top of the bung head. The cup may be of any suitable shape so long as it does not conform with the configuration of the bung head. A small hole is provided at the top of said cap to conform with the hole in the top of the bung. A

small soft metallic brad 34 as shown in Figure 8, is inserted in the hole 32 and then hit. The soft metal spreads, as shown at 35 of Figure 7, and thereby fastens the cap 33 to the bung, and may carry an imprint of a suitable seal. Before the bung can be removed, it is necessary to remove or distort the fragile metallic cup around the bung. The brad 34 may be made of any soft metal or alloy, ,such as copper or lead, but preferably the material should have a low melting point so that steam can be used to melt the metal out of the hole 32 when preparing the bung for reuse. Such alloys as Woods metal, or Lipowitz alloy may be used.

To use the bung and destructible cap, the washer 36 is placed around the bung hole and the bung is then tightly screwed therein. A fragile cap 33 is then placed over the head of the bung and fastened thereto by the brad 34,

Figure 9 shows another modification of my invention, wherein the threaded bung body 31 is provided with a polygonal head 38, as described herein above. A fragile circular cup 39 is placed over the bung, and the edge of the cup, which is provided with a hook as shown at 40, is snapped over the downwardly flared edge of the flanged washer 4|, thereby forming a lap joint which tightly holds the cap over the placed over the head of the bung and pressed downwardly until the rolled edge of the cap engages the flanged washer 5|. flanged washer 4| may be placed above or below the gaskets 42 and 43. Before the bung can be removed, it is necessary to destroy or crush the cap before a wrench can be applied to thehead of the bung.

Another modification of my invention is shown in Figure 10, wherein the threaded bung body 44 is provided with a hexagonal head 45. The destructible metallic cap 48 slips over the polygonal head of the bung, and the edge of said cap is rolled, as shown at 41, so as to engage the underside of the flanged head 45. The diameter If desired, the

of the cap 43, from rolled edge 'to rolled edge,

over the bung head, but the resiliency of the metal cap causes the rolled edges to engage the under side of the flanged head 45. v

To apply the bung and destructible metallic cap, the gasket 48 is placed over the threaded g bung hole 49, and the bung 44 is screwed therein. The cap 46 is then placed over the bung head and forced downwardly until the rolled edges of said cap engage the underside of said head. It is apparent that the cap 46 must be crushed. in or distorted before it can be removed or before a wrench can be placed on the polygonal headv of the bung.

Another modification of my invention is shown in Figure 11, wherein the threaded body 15 50 of the'bung is provided with, a polygonal he'ad 5|. A circular destructible metallic cap 52 fits over the head 5|, and the edge of the cap is crimped as shown at 53 and adapted to engage the flanged washer 54. 20

To apply the bung and cap, the gasket 55 and flanged washer 5d are placed over the bung hole and the bung is then screwed therein. The cap 52 is pressed over the bung head and crimped around the flange 53, thereby forming a tight 25 seal. Before the bung can be removed, the crimped seal must be broken and the cap removed or the cap 52 must be crushed before'a wrench can be applied thereto.

The destructible cap or shield used to cover 0 the head of the bung or the part of the bung where a wrench is applied, may be made of any suitable fragile material such as sheet metal, but generally sheet tin coated iron of 21 to 35 gauge is satisfactory. 35

Another modification of my invention is shown in Figure 12, wherein the bung body 56 is threaded and adapted to engage the threads in the bung hole on the surface of the container 51. The head of the bung is non-circular in 4 configuration and projects beyond the body of the bung, thereby forming the non-circular head 58. A corrugated washer 59 is placed around the bung when it is screwed into the bung hole, and the peripheral edge of the washer is inclined 45 downwardly as shown at 60. After the bung and washer have been placed in position, the cap 6|, which is provided with a rolled edge 62, is placed over the bung and pressed downwardly until the rolled edge of the cap hooks under the edge of 50 the washer. Cap 6| may be of any design or shape, so long as it does not conform to the a wrench is applied thereto.

It should be understood that the protective caps or shields hereinabove described do not seal the bungs to the barrel, but they surround the bung so that the cap must be crushed ordis- .torted before a wrench can be applied to the bung, thereby providing a means for informing the consumer whether or not the bung has been removed or tampered with after the container leaves the producer.

The barrel seals in Figs. 8 and 11 have been described and claimed in my co-pending divisional application, Serial No. 5338, flled February 7, 1935. e

head containing a non-circular socket for tln'ning the bung and having a groove in the lower portion of the socket side wall, a destructihle metallic cap surrounding the head and a portion of said cap being depressed nonconiormably, into said socket and into said groove. V2.Inoombinatlon.abungandaneasilydestructible cap for 'said bung, a threaded bung body, a polygonal head integral with said body, a non-circular socket in the top of said head and the lower part of said socket slanting outwardly thereby forming an outwardly slanting groove in the lower part thereof, a destructible cap surrounding the p l onal head, the central part of said cap being depressed into said socket and terminating in said groove.

3. A metal container having a relatively small outlet, a metal bung for closing such outlet, saidbung having a wrench-hold on its sides and a non-circular wrench socket in the top thereof, said socket having a portion of increased crosssectional area'at the lower end thereof and a g sheet-metal sealing cap for covering and encompassing the wrench-hold and bung and being depressed non-conionnably into. said socket and secured thereto by pressing the sheet metal of the cap outwardly in said socket portion of in- 19 creased cross-sectional area. i

4. In combination, a container bung provided with a head having a non-circular socket for turning the bung and having a laterally extending depression in the socket side wall, a destrmct- 15 ible metallic cap surrounding the head, a portion of said cap being depressed non-coniormably into said socket and into said laterally extending depression, and means facilitating manual detachment of said cap, saidlast named means including a manually engageablei tongue.

LOSSIE E. ANDERSON. 

